What does Boxing Day Mean?

It is only this year that I learned what “Boxing day” means. Most Americans have heard this term and I guarantee that the majority of us just picture a boxing match or taking out frustration on relatives after being cooped up in a house with them over the holidays.

So for those who, like me, have never understood why the UK has a day to beat the crap out of people after Christmas, I will give you the information I learned this month from Reader’s Digest:

“… it’s actually a celebration of charitable giving…… The name comes from the ritual of opening ‘the box’ – the alms box – in the local parish church and distributing the contents to the poor.”

That’s nice, but there are still a few people out there who could use a good knock-out.

Recovery Day or Shopping Spree?

While Boxing Day started in the UK, other countries with British history, like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand apparently celebrate it as well. However, from what I read, it’s less about handing out boxes and more about kicking back and recovering from Christmas. So Boxing Day can be described as the “take a nap and avoid the relatives” holiday. And if you’re lucky, there’s leftover turkey.

Now, despite whether you celebrate boxing day, I think we can all agree that Dec 26th generally devolves into a shopping spree. Forget Black Friday, because Boxing Day is where the real bargains are. Everyone wants those after-Christmas sales. Or for some people, after Christmas returns. Just a note from myself and other people not disappointed with our gifts… Can those of you returning items please wait a few days? You’re totally holding up the line for the rest of us trying to get good deals.

Make Boxing Day the Holiday You Want

While I am disappointed to learn that Boxing Day isn’t about getting into a brawl with your relatives or throwing punches at the long after Christmas sale shopping lines, (though I kind of think the latter is still sometimes true) I suppose it’s a good idea to have a day of spreading goodwill and helping those in need. Like sometimes, certain people need a good punch in the face.